Dec 9

Written by:
12/9/2011 8:53 AM 

   Fashion legend ascribes the invention of the LBD ~ Little Black Dress~ to Coco Chanel in the 1920s. Ever since it has been the staple evening wear for women the world over. There are almost as many variations on the LBD as there are women donning them for holiday parties.

 

Like the LBD, the little black gem, aka ~LBG~ is classic, stylish, and versatile.  The LBG collection includes: black diamonds, black onyx, black sapphire, jet, black pearls, and more. No matter what price range you select for your LBG, I will bet it packs a big punch visually. The LBG can be casual, but definitely makes a statement.

 

Although some black gems have really only come to popularity recently, the use of black gems can be traced back to Biblical times. A large black onyx, among other gems, is said to have been set in the breastplate of Aaron. After the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria had numerous sets of black gems made as “mourning jewelry.”  Jewelry with black gems was a constant presence in Victorian England. Later, in the 1920’s, hip flappers wore strands of jet- black beads down to their waist.  Today a single statement necklace, a wide black cuff, or some great dangle earrings featuring a black gem would complete many outfits with a powerful finish. If you want to truly have a polished or finished look, you need one or two strong pieces of jewelry. I don’t generally like several statement pieces; as someone once said , “It just looks like you are trying too hard.”

 

The ultimate LBG is the black diamond. The only known deposits of black diamonds, also called carbonados, are in Brazil and the Central African Republic. There is much controversy surrounding the origins of black diamonds. There are many supporters of the extraterrestrial theory. They propose that black diamonds came from a supernova 3.8 billion years ago, which came to earth as a meteor impacting the region which later split into what is now Brazil and the Central African Republic.  However, The Gemological Institute of America, the foremost authority in the world on gems, says the black color of black diamonds comes from their numerous inclusions. Often these inclusions are composed of graphite. Of course the chemical formula of graphite is the same as a diamond, yet molecularly they are very different. Because of the large concentrations of inclusions, black diamonds tend to be opaque and very difficult to cut. It is not often you see an extremely large black diamond. The Black Star of Africa at 202 carats and the Black Orloff at 67.5 carats are two of the most notable. 

 

       This holiday season, as you are pulling on your favorite LBD, start dreaming of the right LBG to pair with it.